ACT getting out of the respite business

Joy Burch is handing over respite services as the NDIS comes ever closer:

The ACT Government has commenced consolidating its adult respite services as the ACT prepares to transition to DisabilityCare next year, ACT Minister for Disability Joy Burch said today.

Ms Burch said that as part of the consolidation, management of the centre based respite services will be transitioned to the non-government sector from March 2014, and from next month one of the Government-run respite houses, Elouera, will cease operating due to a steady decline in usage across the ACT’s respite homes.

“DisabilityACT has begun notifying families who use Elouera about the changes, and assuring them that the remaining respite facilities will be able to meet demand,” Ms Burch said.

“DACT staff are being notified of the changes, and assured that all permanent staff will be reassigned within DACT.”

Ms Burch said the restructuring of the ACT’s respite services is necessary as the disability services landscape undergoes significant change ahead of the rollout of DisabilityCare.